The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1887-10-01
JEFFERSON DAMs's LETTER.
The Rovolution II is Causing in the Feel
ing Of the South toward Him 1T is
Blessing in Disguise.

editorial IN the issue of August 4
headed at Must BE Fatality" Ia
which you speak. of jefferson
Davis's anti Prohibition letter to
Gen. Lubbock of Texas, is us
kind and at the same time as
pointed an article as the situation
demanded. In that article you
arc kind In not wouuding the
Southern people by abusing their
once reyered chieftain. Your
kindness in this is similar to the
mercy humanity shows in "tread-
ing lightly o'er the dust of the
dead" jefferson Davis, in
writing that fatal letter. himself
unused the pinion which i'm
pelled the STEEL and in gaming
victory for the Texas whlskey
advocates lost his hold upon
thousands of noble, loyal Southern
hearts who have hitherto sheltered
him from every thrust of criticism
or hate. The general verdict
from the best people in Missis-
sippi to-day is, that Mr., Davis has
made a great mistake, which even
the memory of the old Confeder-
ate days has no power to obliter-
ate. One of the most prominent
preachers in this State, a
Southern man by birth and rear
ing said in the pulpit a few days
since: 81 blush to say my
father was his (Mr. Davis 3 }
friend" Another intense South
erncr-so intense shat he has,
ever since the war, continued to
wear the gray-said II once
thought that if ever Mr.. Davis
came to my town I'd send my
little children to scatter flowers ia
his way. Now, If he were to
come, I'd say: "Wife, children,
Mr.. Dayis is here; stay closely IN
the house to-day !" These
quoted remarks Indicate the
popular verdict in Mississippi.
We all feel as ii we had a death
in our family, and as if we would
love for the word to read simply
the burial service without going
into personalities. In this pre-
sent state it is 10 be hoped that
all Prohibition journals North will
follow your wise course,
which shows SO much delicacy Of
thought for your Southern
comrades who are with you in
this truer, nobler war.
You say: "It must be fatality T.
We say: at must be providen-
tial. " Before Prohibition can be
both won and enforced in the
South it must have in it and
around it the executor of the law
This can only be secured by The
strong pressure of a well organic
cd, clearly defined party. This
party must be brave and true
enough to fight and endure fol
the right even if old issues anc
old prejudices are buried in tn,
effort. The forming OF this party
is necessarily to De brought about
by mighty uphcavals. The Soutl
must realize fully that the issue.
cf the civil war are TO be forever
''put aside," she must know that
a union with the North in one
common interest is of greater i'm
portancc than a morbid sentimen.
tality. "The Solid South" mus
give right of way to the "Sobel
South 4 and the "Home P,olec.
ton party must supplant any anC
all Saloon parties. To bring til,
Southern people to this active con,
ylctiou God seems to be moving
in a wonderful way. Mr.. Davis
perhaps unconsciously to himself
has kept alive the feelings engen.
dered BY the war. The Soutl
has kept upon the alert 10 see il
the North intended to reflect up
on or .criticise harshiy her OLE
chieftain, and the slightest blow
at Mr.. Davis has been fire enough
to set Southern prejudices boil
ing. That disenfranchlsed oil,
soldier in his home, at Beayoi
has been during all the years fol
lowing the war sage in the opin
ion Of many Southern men, VIII,
looked upon his political discern
mcnt as almost infaIIible. S
long as Mr.. Davis could hold thi
emInence, Just so long the con-
plete union Of the North an,
South would be delayed. Ha
Mr.. DayiS died possessing thi
controlling power, years Nigh
have passed without lessening it
sway.
In the knowledge Of these fact
does il not seem providentiaI tbS